“I am afraid not, sir. It was getting dusk, and he was five or six car-lengths from me, and running stooped over.
“Perhaps we could follow his footsteps down the side of the train?” Alex suggested.
“Good idea! Lead ahead. There has been a good deal of tramping about, but we may pick them out.”
Proceeding to the point several cars distant at which he had seen the stranger on the ground, Alex moved on slowly, carefully inspecting the freshly turned but considerably trampled earth, the superintendent following him.
A car-length beyond, the latter suddenly paused, retraced his steps a few feet, and pointing out three succeeding impressions, exclaimed, “I think we have him, Ward! See? A long step! He was running on his toes.”
Aided by the known length of the stride, they continued, following the footprints with comparative ease. Passing the second car from the end, they found the steps shorten, then change to a walk. “Probably turned in between this and the last car,” the superintendent observed.
“Yes; here they go,” announced Alex, halting at the opening between the two flats. “He stood for a moment, then went on through.”
Alex and the superintendent followed, and continued toward the rear of the last car. Half way Alex halted, and with an ejaculation stooped and picked up something white. “A small shaving, sir!”
The official took it. “That decides the matter,” he said. “Probably it was sticking to his clothes.”
“He sat down here, for some time, did he not?” Alex was pointing to a depression in the earth well under the car, between two ties, and to the marks of bootheels. The superintendent went to his knees and closely examined the impressions left by the heels.